Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Revolution (DLC Review)

Developer Treyarch and publisher Activision announced the release of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Season Pass in 2012 that would allow players to pick up four future add-ons for a discounted price, and the team has unleashed the Revolution DLC as the first part of the content drops for their hit game. Revolution includes four new multiplayer maps in Hydro, Mirage, Downhill and Grind, a new Zombies map called Die Rise. an all new Zombies mode called Turned and the Peacekeeper SMG for use in multiplayer matches. Revolution is the largest expansion for the Call of Duty franchise ever, and fans can be sure they're getting their money's worth when picking up this new DLC.

The four new multiplayer maps included in Revolution are a great collection of maps that are fun to play in different game modes. Hydro will be one of the most anticipated maps in the expansion and with good reason. The map is fairly large when accounting for a few buildings and structures on the upper part of the map that offer good vantage points, while having underground tunnels that will be flooded with water from time to time during matches and really confuses players above while looking at their radar. The map is great for nearly every game mode, especially objective modes, and is one of the best in Revolution.

Mirage is another fairly large map in Revolution that offers great gameplay across numerous modes. Players will enjoy the flexibility of the map that offers plenty of statues, wrecked vehicles and more to hide behind and use for cover, while the uneven level of sand throughout the stage can make shooting accurately awkward at times. There are several smaller building spread across the map and a large building in the center of the map where plenty of intense gunfights are bound to occur. Mirage is another great map and one of the best in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 to date.

When experienced Call of Duty players look at Downhill, they will inevitably write it off as yet another snow stage, and they would be correct for the most part. While the map is a lot of fun, it doesn't add much we haven't seen before with the exception of a few hazards that we won't spoil here. The map is probably the largest of the four and offers snipers a chance to shine at long distances. There are several buildings in the stage including a couple of central structures that serve as safety from the elements and long distance battles. Downhill is a good map for different game modes, but it's just not a terribly exciting map to be sure.

Grind is another of the most talked about maps in Revolution. The map takes players to a sunny skate park in Venice Beach where plenty of ramps, rails and tunnels make this map one of the most unique and one of the most difficult to camp and find cover. The action in Grind is fast paced, and it is probably the smallest map in Revolution, so smaller match types work best here. The spawn points tend to get a bit wonky with more teams and players in the game, but Grind is still a great map. A few central choke points located around the map tend to be heavy on gun fights, and well placed explosives can ruin your enemies' day. The four multiplayer maps in the expansion are all pretty fun in the right game modes, so it becomes difficult to choose a favorite.

Finally, players will travel to the Far East where a series of Chinese skyscrapers have been partially destroyed and are now crawling with hordes of the undead. Players begin a match in Die Rise by free falling down an elevator shaft before you make your way into the action while disoriented from the drop. The new Zombies map includes plenty of new content and is more reminiscent of classic Call of Duty: Black Ops maps rather than its sequel. The aesthetic design of the map gives you clearer lines of sight and annoying lava mounds are non-existent for the most part. There aren't very many open areas located around the map, but there are plenty of hallways perfect for zombies to get the jump on you and your team. A creepy new fast-crawling zombie, a new perk called Who's Who, the return of Mule Kick and more await players in the confines of Die Rise, and there are plenty of things to build as well including a brand new wonder weapon and catapult that will help players travel between skyscrapers. Die Rise is one of the best Zombies maps ever and a quick favorite for those who have been disappointed with the new Zombies maps in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.

Revolution is appropriately named with the remainder of the expansion's content. The all new Turned Zombies mode allows players to experience life as a zombie for the first time ever. Options allow for different weapon sets and objectives, but the core gameplay remains the same. A lone survivor must try to take out the zombies before they reach him and earn additional points for remaining a human for as long as possible all while human controlled zombies attempt to capture the survivor and become human once again. Powerups and the like are still included, but now, zombies can pick them up to place curses on the survivor including ammo drops decreasing ammo and so forth. Turned is a fun mode that is best enjoyed with a group of friends once you've grown tired of Survival and Tranzit.

Last but not least is the Peacekeeper SMG. Fans will be happy to know the gun is not overpowered in the least bit, but it is one of the more unique SMGs in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Rather than relying on heavy firepower and spray and pray, the Peacekeeper is an accurate firearm that may actually be the best at long range. As almost a hybrid of SMG and Assault Rifle, you'd probably be best served to throw on a red dot sight or some other scope and play it as you would with your favorite mid to long range gun, or just forget it's there and continue playing with your guns of choice.. Either way, it's another fine addition included in Revolution, and you'd be crazy to pass up on all of this great new content if you already own Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. We're truly hoping the new expansion is a Revolution for add-on content for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, because Revolution gives you the most bang for your buck over any DLC for the Call of Duty franchise in a long time.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is now available from all major retailers for the MSRP of $59.99 and can be purchased for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes & Use of Drugs. For more information on the game, check out the official Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 website.